Prospect Talent Score

Probability of Success

History

2009-10: William Carrier appeared in three midget AAA games with the Lac Saint-Louis Lions and was selected by Cape Breton in the fourth round (61st overall) of the 2010 QMJHL Entry Draft.

2010-11: Carrier skated in 61 games for Cape Breton in his first QMJHL season and played for Canada Quebec in the 2011 U17 World Hockey Challenge. One of seven 16-year-olds to skate for the Screaming Eagles, he scored 8 goals with 4 assists and was minus-28 with 54 penalty minutes. Cape Breton reached the playoffs despite finishing last in the Maritimes Division and in four playoff games Carrier was minus-five with no points and 2 penalty minutes. In six games at the WHC he scored 2 goals with 3 assists and had 10 penalty minutes for Canada Quebec.

2011-12:Carrier had a breakout season offensively in his second year with Cape Breton, finishing second on the team with 70 points as the Screaming Eagles moved up to fifth in the Martimes Division. He scored 27 goals with 43 assists in 66 games, trailing only overage center Jonathan Brunelle in both categories, and was minus-10 with 65 penalty minutes. In Cape Breton’s one-sided first round playoff series with eventual QMJHL champion Saint John he scored 3 goals with 3 assists and was minus-4 with 16 penalty minutes in four games. Carrier joined Canada for the 2012 U18 World Junior Championship and was scoreless and minus-one in seven games for the bronze medal-winning squad.

2012-13: Carrier was off to a fast start for Cape Breton in his third season and played for Team QMJHL in the Subway Series against Russia before suffering a season-ending ankle injury in December. In 34 games he scored 16 goals with 26 assists and was minus-14 with 41 penalty minutes. He was scoreless with no penalty minutes in the two games for Team QMJHL against Russia. Carrier was ranked 18th amongst North American Skaters in Central Scouting’s final rankings prior to the 2013 NHL Draft. Carrier was chosen in the second round, 57th overall, of the 2013 NHL Draft by the St. Louis Blues.

2013-14: Carrier attended training camp with the Blues before returning to Cape Breton for his fourth QMJHL season. He played 39 games with the Screaming Eagles and was traded to Drummondville in a multi-player trade deadline deal in January 2014. In 66 regular season games between the two teams he scored 22 goals with 43 assists and was -1 with 87 penalty minutes. Drummondville finished third in the West Division and reached the second round in the playoffs. Carrier played in four playoff games — missing six games due to a lower body injury suffered in the first round against Victoriaville — and scored 1 goal with 3 assists, finishing +1 with 6 penalty minutes. Buffalo obtained Carrier from the Blues in February 2014 as part of the multi-player trade that sent Ryan Miller to St. Louis and Jaroslav Halak to the Sabres.

2014-15: Carrier skated for Buffalo AHL affiliate Rochester in his first pro season. The youngest player in the Americans’ lineup, he saw steady ice time in a lower line role and showed progress making the adjustment from junior hockey to the pro game.

Talent Analysis

Carrier is an all-weather forward who struggled with injuries during his junior career. He combines size with offensive skill and has a burning desire to leave it all out on the ice every night. He plays a physical style and will take punishment in the corners or in front of the net to make a play. He sometimes tries to do too much on the ice. With great hands and a cannon of a shot, Carrier has worked hard to improve his skating.

Future

Carrier made his AHL debut with Buffalo affiliate Rockford as a 19-year-old in 2014-15 rather than returning to the QMJHL for an overage season. The youngest player in the Americans' lineup, he had the expected ups-and-downs of a first-year pro; showing glimpses of the scoring ability that made him a second-round pick in 2013. Carrier will need to add bulk and strength to compete at the NHL level — but the progress he has made this season suggests he can be a strong two-way forward one day.

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